LAKELAND, Fla. — The question of Jim Leyland’s job security has been a verboten topic the last few springs.

No need (or room) for discussion, as the veteran manager voluntarily worked on a series of one-year deals, with the intent of allowing either side to walk away at any time, no strings attached.

Apparently, he’s nowhere close to walking away.

Friday, he brought it up himself, when asked if he’d considering riding off into the sunset, should the Tigers win a World Series this season.

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“I’m not retiring. No. I’m not retiring, whether we win or don’t win. I mean, now, they (the front office) might have a different thought. But it won’t be mine,” he admitted.

“I have no intention of retiring. I feel good, I like what I’m doing. I have absolutely no intention of retiring. A lot of people said, ‘Well, if you won last year, would you have retired?’ No, I would not have. That was never the plan. I don’t have any plan on retiring any time soon, but that could very easily change, with how the club does, and how Dave (Dombrowski, the GM) and Mr. (owner Mike) Ilitch feel.”

Does that mean that the Tigers could be looking at several more years of Leyland’s leadership?

“I don’t know about years, but I’m not ready to go home,” he said. “I love what I do.”

The 68-year-old admitted that health concerns could obviously change that plan.

But he’s not ready to be a retiree, just yet.

“I got too much energy. I love what I’m doing. I like competing, I like the good pressure of it,” he said. “I don’t like some of the stuff that goes with it. Nobody likes some of the stuff that goes with it, but you accept that. When you sit in this chair, you accept that, and if you don’t, you’re crazy.”

Leyland’s latest contract renewal was not announced until a couple of days after the conclusion of the World Series sweep, allowing both sides to look at the situation dispassionately, and make the decision based on logic, rather than emotion.

The same thing would apply, should the Tigers win it.

But don’t expect Leyland — who has taken the Tigers to two appearances in the World Series in six seasons — to go out in the afterglow of a World Series title, like his good friend Tony La Russa did, should the Tigers win one in the next few years. Winning a second title as a manager won’t change Leyland’s perception of his own career.

“You know what? If I went out tomorrow, I wouldn’t care how any of you guys felt. If I went out tomorrow, I would feel like I went out on top,” he said. “I was a backup Double-A catcher, hit (bleeping) .222, I managed in the big leagues 22 years, won a world title, division titles, American League championships. What the (heck)? I don’t give a (bleep) what you guys think. I don’t mean that disrespectful. I don’t care what you think. If I went out tomorrow, I’d say ‘Holy (crap).’ I got some money in my pocket. Made a lot of money, had a lot of fun, managed a lot of great players, against a lot of great players. What’s to (complain) about? I don’t give a (crap) what anybody thinks about that. That’s my moment. That’s for me. I don’t care what anybody else thinks. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is.

“Pretty good.”

Matthew B. Mowery covers the Tigers for Journal Register Company. Email him at matt.mowery@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @matthewbmowery.